Agave May Ward Off Osteoporosis

SAN FRANCISCOFoods spiked with fructans from the agave plant may help protect against osteoporosis and other diseases such as diabetes and colon cancer by boosting the bodys absorption of calcium, according to a new study presented at the 239th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

Fructans are considered functional food ingredients because they affect body processes in ways that result in better health and reduction in the risk of many diseases, said researcher Mercedes López, Ph.D., of the National Polytechnic Institute, Guanajuato, Mexico. Experimental studies suggest that fructans may be beneficial in diabetes, obesity, stimulating the immune system of the body, decreasing levels of disease-causing bacteria in the intestine, relieving constipation and reducing the risk of colon cancer.

Fructans are non-digestible carbohydrates that consist of molecules of fructose linked together into chains. Rich natural sources include artichokes, Jerusalem artichokes, garlic and onions, and chicory.

Scientific studies have suggested that fructans stimulate the growth of healthful bacteria in the large intestine in a way that increases the bodys absorption of minerals, including the calcium and magnesium important for bone growth.

According to the study, mice fed agave fructans absorbed more calcium from food, excreted less calcium in their feces, and showed a 50-percent increase in levels of a protein associated with the build-up of new bone tissue.

These results suggest that the supplementation of the standard diet with agave fructans prevented bone loss and improved bone formation, indicating the important role of agave fructans on the maintenance of healthy bone, López said. They can be used in many products for children and infants to help prevent various diseases, and can even be used in ice cream as a sugar substitute.